Geref Diagnostic News

ISSUE: Talon Compounding Pharmacy (TCP) voluntarily recalled all lots of lyophilized HCG and sermorelin aseptically compounded and packaged by TCP and that remain within expiry due to FDA concern over a lack of sterility assurance. Administration of a sterile drug product intended to be sterile that is compromised can result in health hazards including risk of serious infection or other complications. The sterile products were distributed to patients and providers nationwide between January 18 and July 18, 2016. BACKGROUND: The recalled lots were packaged in 10ml amber glass vials bearing a label containing the name and strength of the drug, the lot number and the beyond-use date. RECOMMENDATION: Customers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using these drug products. Providers who have dispensed any ... Read more

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2015 – Older women with osteoporosis could get lasting benefits from a few years on growth hormone, a new, small trial suggests. Researchers found that when women with the bone-thinning disease took growth hormone for three years, their fracture risk was still reduced seven years later. Before entering the study, 56 percent of the women had suffered a bone break; over the 10-year study period, 28 percent sustained a fracture. But the study, reported online Aug. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, only involved 55 women who used growth hormone. And experts said it is unlikely to become an approved treatment for osteoporosis any time soon. Still, the results are "pretty exciting," since they show a sustained effect on women's fracture risk, said Dr. Jerome Tolbert, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. "Osteoporosis is a ... Read more

THURSDAY, Oct. 11 – In the wake of new allegations around Lance Armstrong's involvement in blood doping, experts are reminding the public of the devastating impact these substances can have on an athlete's health. The recent report by the United States Anti-Doping Agency accusing seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong (he was recently stripped of those titles) of doping participation shows how deeply the practice is ingrained in cycling, but it's a big problem in others sports as well. So-called performance-enhancing drugs – such as erythropoietin, anabolic steroids and human growth hormone – may affect almost every system in the body, and have been linked to severe medical and psychiatric side effects. Add in diuretics to mask all the drugs, and athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs are risking their long-term health, experts say. One of the most common drugs is ... Read more